Khadi consciousness

The hand-spun fabric of Khadi is linked inextricably to India’s freedom movement. In the 1920s, Mahatma Gandhi’s Khadi movement promoted the spinning of indigenous Khadi as a means to generate employment and a measure to boycott foreign goods by promoting Indian goods.

Khadi has regained its popularity as a garment of choice

India boasts of a centuries-old tradition of spinning and weaving textiles, and to draw attention to the “freedom fabric”, design studio Creative Bee, which works towards reviving endangered Indian textiles, is showcasing a collection of Khadi textiles.

The design studio has been working with NGOs and Khadi cooperative societies and will host an exhibition-cum-sale of saris, dupattas, fabrics and yardage.

Villagers spinning the Khadi yarn

“At Creative Bee, we work with Khadi weavers and cooperative societies round the year. But for January 26, we wanted to make a special collection for clients with a patriotic inclination, so that they can have good options if they choose to buy and wear Khadi for Republic Day. Khadi is, after all, an integral part and an icon of India’s liberation from colonial rule,” says designer Bina Rao, who is the co-founder of Creative Bee.

She adds that Khadi has regained its popularity amongst designers and the younger generation prefers to wear trendy Khadi outfits. “Khadi saris are also popular as they are soft to the touch and have elegant designs hand-printed on them.”

Khadi textiles will be on display

The range of products on display will include fabric woven in different counts /textures of Khadi cotton, yarn dyed or hand block printed in Bina Rao’s designs, temple border saris in soothing natural dye, contrast colours woven in soft khadi yarn and open weaves which drape better and defy the myth of Khadi being bulky and heavy. Dupattas and garments will also be on sale.

Creative Bee’s design and production is based in Hyderabad with branches in Mumbai, Delhi and Surat. Most products are sourced from the Creative Bee Dye farm while a few are from Khadi cooperatives in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

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